Changes

It took me a couple days to be able to write this post but I think I can handle it now.  Riley's last day with Ben and me was Wednesday.  While this was completely my choice, it was still difficult.  Shortly after Riley started I decided I couldn't be the Mom to Ben that I'd always wanted to be with Riley here.  Basically I felt that the reasons and benefits from all the sacrifices we make so that I can stay home weren't being realized.  I gave Riley's Mama 3 months to find something new and she found a great center for him with Grandma's to love him all day.  I'm excited for all that Riley will learn there and to have the summer mono-e-mono with my Nugget.  "it's a Magical World Hobbes, old buddy, Let's go Exploring."-Calvin

We started our exploring with the mall on Thursday with our walking buddies Tisha and Cadyn.  It turned out to be nice enough to walk outside but we had some important and official Easter Bunny business to finish so it all worked well.  Tisha got some cute pics of the babies on the ride on toys.

We had another guest Friday in the form of 2-year-old Madeline.  The day had been planned for several months as I used to work with her mom and her daycare was closed for Good Friday.  Thank goodness Riley's last day was Wednesday as just Maddie completely exhausted me, and Ben too!  She was very sweet and very well behaved but by 10am Ben grew so tired just watching her run around that he slept for 2.5 hours.  Of course he awoke at the beginning of Maddie's (short) nap time so there was no rest for the wicked on this day.  With two naps shot we spent lots of time on the swingset.  I had explained to Maddie that there was dog poop in the yard so she couldn't go run in it and every time she reached the bottom of the slide, she would proclaim, "poop poooooop, poop, pooop, poooooooooooooooop."  She also permanently hid the basket and eggs from our family room egg hunt and anytime I tried to pick them up she would say, "no. shhhhh! hiding."  She was a blast and we look forward to her future days off with us.  I'll just know to make more coffee and load up on B vitamins in the days ahead next time.

Now, as they say, "the world is our oyster."  I'm very excited about what the summer with Ben holds.  I've started a list of mostly free activities for us, and I'll update you here as we check them off :).